The SRF - an abbreviation of Safety RFID - monitors moveable separating protective equipment such as flaps, doors and protection hoods. This, especially compact sensor, protects employees from injury by shutting down or not starting up machines and equipment when the separating safety device is not properly closed.
In developing this new product, BERNSTEIN has paid particular attention to the diagnostic system accompanying the sensor. The system provides a large amount of data, making it available centrally and flexibly as an aid to intelligent production. “This feature is currently the only one on the market”, explains BERNSTEIN AG Product Manager Marcus Scholz at the trade fair in Nuremberg.
Diagnostic data is fed into the machine control system via I/O Link or alternatively displayed on a smart phone by way of NFC technology. In this way 20 different items of diagnostic information can be retrieved and made available for each sensor - also when connected in a series. “Data collected in this manner can be used for convenient, cost-effective predictive maintenance based on early fault detection, sometimes preventing a costly shutdown”, as Marcus Scholz emphasizes. If the power supply fails, a fault memory via NFC covers the troubleshooting. If a fault is detected at an emergency output, an emergency mode also offers the option to power the machine down in a controlled way before an emergency shutdown is triggered. This prevents any damage to tools or work pieces.
Series connection of the sensor system is supported by a 4-core standard unshielded cable, avoiding the unnecessary extra cost of accessories. In compliance with ISO 14119, the SRF has a type 4 locking system.
The new BERNSTEIN AG smart Sensor SRF, is ideal for use in any location where safety switches (type 2) or sensors (type 4) are fitted for machine safety. Consequently, the SRF is ideally suited for utilisation scenarios involving packaging machines and equipment, woodworking machines, turning and milling machines, food processing machines and injection moulding machines, to name but a few.
